J&J Dual-Targeting CAR-T Shows Up to 100% Response in Refractory Lymphoma Trial

Johnson & Johnson's dual-targeting CAR T-cell therapy, JNJ-90014496 (also referred to as JNJ-4496), has shown promising efficacy and safety in a Phase 1b trial for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). The therapy targets both CD19 and CD20 antigens to potentially overcome resistance mechanisms, achieving complete response rates of 75-80% among evaluable patients, with an objective response rate of 100% in those who had one prior treatment and 92% for those with two or more prior therapies. The safety profile was favorable, with no Grade 3 or 4 cytokine release syndrome observed at the recommended Phase 2 dose, though 84% of patients experienced Grade 3 or 4 adverse events, primarily neutropenia. These findings were presented at the 2025 European Hematology Association Congress and highlight the potential of this therapy to improve outcomes beyond current single-antigen CD19 CAR T-cell treatments, which achieve long-term remissions in about 40% of patients. Additionally, a related phase 1 study of the CD19/CD20-directed CAR T-cell therapy KITE-363 is underway, further reflecting ongoing advances in CAR T-cell therapies for B-cell lymphomas. Meanwhile, a separate retrospective study on adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared pediatric-inspired and adult intensive regimens, noting comparable long-term survival outcomes and suggesting future combination therapies may improve results further.